Tigers nearing deal to bring back Victor Martinez
PHOENIX – The Detroit Tigers on Wednesday were nearing a four-year, $68 million contract with veteran designated hitter Victor Martinez, who, at 35, is coming off his best offensive season.
In an offseason in which 18-game winner and 2013 Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer is also a free agent, the 90-win Tigers had the re-signing of Martinez as their first priority.
Fox Sports was first to report the two sides were close.
Martinez, who will be 36 next month and nearing 40 when the contract expires, batted .335 with 32 home runs and 103 RBI in 151 games for the Tigers. The switch-hitter led the American League in on-base percentage and on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He did play 35 games at first base and two at catcher.
With Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez and Victor Martinez posting OPS’s near .900 or better, the Tigers scored the second-most runs in the league, behind only the Los Angeles Angels.
The Tigers have finished first in the AL Central for four consecutive seasons. In that time, they once reached the World Series, where they were swept by the San Francisco Giants in 2012. Against the elements of attrition and a pitching staff, particularly a bullpen, that underperformed in ’14, they made quick work of bringing back Martinez, the first major signing of the winter.
The Seattle Mariners were believed to be heavy bidders for Martinez, and there was interest from the Toronto Blue Jays as well.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
